This compelling story from Jeff Moore, a regular Chattanoogan.com Outdoors reader
Opening morning of rifle season found us getting in the stand a few minutes late. We were in a box stand overlooking a small food plot, and things were not going our way.
The stand has settled to the back, and tilts just enough to make it hard for my 10-year-old son to see the entire field.
As if that weren't enough, we were making entirely to much noise, and I'm too big to be sharing a blind with anyone.
We have worked so hard this season to get Jackson his first deer, but nothing has gone our way. I was convinced this was going to be another fruitless effort.
Just as my thoughts were becoming more negative, I spotted 3 does coming down the draw from the neighboring property to ours. Things are looking up. Within minutes, the does come out of the woods directly in front of our setup to feed.
Jackson had to scoot forward to see them even though they were right in front of us. The does were soon held at attention by something to our right. No sooner had I told my son to pay attention to this, a deer comes out of the thicket.
It's a buck, and he is on a mission. The young buck is determined to make an impression on these girls. He starts herding them around the center of the field.
Jackson cannot get the deer in the scope at 40 yards. He is stricken with a raging case of buck fever and his panic is starting to effect what little calm I had.
"Jackson, can you see him," I asked.
"No dad," came an urgent response.
We don't have long, the does have made a break for the woods.
I reposition the weapon to the right just as the does stop. The buck made his way just shy of their position and gave us a perfect broadside pose.
"It's now or never son," I said. "Get on him and squeeze the trigger".
The 300 magnum rang loud in the crisp morning air.
Jackson had knock he buck, stone cold dead in its tracks at 70 yards. The does stood confused. My son had just harvested his first deer.
I have thought of this day for many years, but didn't realize how strong the emotions would be. A tradition has been passed on.
My son is a hunter.
